Wednesday, June 12, 2013

They say
that a picture speaks a thousand words. So I need not go into how appalling the
weather has been so far this summer. Just a few words about how it teases us
now and again by reminding us that there is still a blue sky somewhere up there
and that the sun continues to sun shine brightly behind the clouds.

There are
some that have an interest in the weather remaining gray. The most obvious
group are the owners of travel agencies. Trips to the tropics are selling like
hotcakes.

Everyone is
hoping that we are not about to experience the same type of summer as in 1983,
the summer known here as the „the evil summer of rain“ (hið illræmda
rigningarsumar). That year the sun forgot us completely. Keep in mind that we
need summer sun to counteract the dark winters.

I realise
while typing this that I really have nothing to say. Discussing weather is a
sure fire sign of this. I guess it has something to do with nothing special
going on here at present, the other day the first and main news story on the
radio was about a guy who had almost gotten hurt while canoeing. It makes one
think that they should consider having a novelist on standby to make up stuff
since something that almost happened is considered news. The novelist news
stories could be about things that could have happened. There is not a whole
lot of difference between almost happened and could have happened. Could have
happened would at least have the potential for being interesting.

So what
does one do on an international blog site when one’s country comes up dry? Well, I suppose I could take
onboard the other Nordic countries - seeing that I am probably supposed to cover
that section of the world.

On Sunday I
am going to Sweden so this is where I will start. My next blog will be about
Sweden. Until then I will tell you offhand what I know, or think I know about
the country:

Income tax is about 110%

Everyone is tall, blond and beautiful

Their flag was designed by a colorblind person

The guy who owns IKEA is named Ingvar

Ingvar drives a 30 year old Volvo (could have something to do with the taxes)

Paid maternity leave lasts until the child has a child

On Christmas women wear a wreath of leaves on their heads in honor of St Lucia. On this they put candles. And they actually light them.

They have an endless supply of great crimewriters. But no crime.

I get
everything except I don’t understand the St Lucia connection. And I wonder what
HSE has to say about lighting candles placed on top of a head, decorated with dried
out leaves and full of hair.